What is Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery?
An Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS) first earns a doctorate in Dental Surgery or Dental Medicine (DDS or DMD) and then completes a four or six year hospital-based surgical residency. OMSs train alongside medical residents in internal medicine, general surgery and anesthesiology, and spend time in plastic surgery, emergency medicine and other specialty areas. We are leaders in dental implant technology as well as the full spectrum of oral and facial surgery.
We are among the only specialists in the dental field qualified to administer general anesthesia. We are hospital credentialed and though we perform most of our surgeries in-office, in specialized operatories, we also operate at Dixie Regional Medical Center as necessary for patient medical issues or case complexity.
Our assistants are DAANCE (Dental Anesthesia Administration National Certification Exam) Certified which means they meet national standards in training and testing set forth by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and can provide supportive anesthesia care in a safe and effective manner.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Wayne Dudley
Dr. Matthew Mizukawa
Dr. Erik Nielsen
St. George Surgical Assistants
They work primarily in our surgical offices but they also assist our doctors at Dixie Regional Medical Center when hospital surgery is necessary. They are very highly trained and most of them are also Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification Exam (DAANCE) Certified or are in the process of preparing for certification.
This national certification was created by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and ensures that a Dental Anesthesia Assistant (DAA) possesses the expertise to provide supportive anesthesia care in a safe and effective manner. The training makes the DAA knowledgeable in the perioperative and emergent care management of patients undergoing office based outpatient anesthesia.
St. George Patient Care Coordinators
This friendly group appreciates all of our patients and understands that every surgical procedure, no matter how small, or quick, is very important. They make a priority out of making each patient is as comfortable as possible during their time with us and as knowledgeable as possible about the stages of their procedure.
Cedar City Assistants & Patient Care Coordinators
Our Cedar City team is made up of longtime members of both the Cedar City community and of Dixie Oral Surgery. They are based in our Cedar City office but work seamlessly together with the St. George office staff as well. Both offices follow the same procedures to ensure that patients who need to transition between offices can do so seamlessly. This group holds the same high standards of training and certification for surgical assisting as well as anesthesia assisting, and continual updates to our facility, its radiology and sterilization equipment ensure that it always adheres to the latest developments and levels for standards of care.
The Cedar City staff all have roots in Iron County, and have raised their own children in the community. To them, making each patient’s experience as smooth and comfortable as possible is personal and they always go the extra mile for their patients, friends and neighbors.